Fender Custom Shop 1963 Stratocaster Relic Aged British Racing Green Metallic #CZ588505
Product information "Fender Custom Shop 1963 Stratocaster Relic Aged British Racing Green Metallic #CZ588505"
In 1954 the Fender Stratocaster finally hit the market after a long development period. The instrument looked like no guitar before it: the body was curvier and more flowing than that of the Telecaster to increase playing comfort, the new headstock slightly recalled the old Bigsby headstocks, the output jack was elegantly recessed into the side of the body instead of sitting on the top, and the Strat came equipped with three single-coil pickups. The guitar originally featured an ash body and a bolt-on maple neck and was at first only available in 2-Colour Sunburst or White Blonde finishes. It wasn’t an immediate bestseller, but gradually the Strat grew in popularity and became an integral part of music history.
At first the Stratocaster was only available in the two colours mentioned above, but from 1957 the first custom colours were introduced, allowing customers to order more colourful guitars for an extra charge. In 1959 the Strat — together with the Telecaster — received a facelift: bodies were now made from alder and the maple necks were fitted with rosewood fretboards, which produced a warmer overall tone. New colours were also added to the existing custom palette.
The Fender Custom Shop has made it its mission to study the high-quality vintage Stratocasters of that era and recreate them down to the smallest detail. Here we have a very special Custom Shop one-off that takes its cue from a Stratocaster from Fender’s heyday:
The Fender Custom Shop 1963 Stratocaster Relic Aged British Racing Green Metallic is a classic ST-style electric guitar with an alder body. Alder has been used on original Stratocasters since the late 1950s and provides the basis for the perfect vintage sound. The aged maple neck with rosewood fretboard has an oval "C" profile in the style of the 60s and a 9.5" fretboard radius, offering the perfect compromise between vintage feel and modern comfort. The guitar is equipped with a classic S-S-S pickup configuration of three Fender Custom Shop handwound 60/63 Strat single coils. Other features include Fender vintage-style tuners, control knobs in Vintage White, a Fender synchronized tremolo bridge and a three-ply mint-green pickguard.
This model is finished in a striking British Racing Green Metallic. The thin nitrocellulose lacquer finish allows the wood to resonate particularly well and lets the finish age beautifully. The guitar is delightfully dinged, dented and even a little scratched. One of the most attractive features of this relic level is the worn neck. You’ll feel the raw wood under your hand, giving you the comfort of your favourite pair of well-broken-in trainers. The moment you pick up this Relic, you’ll feel like you’ve been playing it for years.
The Fender Custom Shop 1963 Stratocaster Relic Aged British Racing Green Metallic is delivered with a certificate of authenticity in a luxurious original Fender Custom Shop case with black Tolex and red interior, so you can transport your new dream guitar safely and protect it from external influences.
- Aging: Medium Aged
- Body Material: Alder
- Body Shape: ST-Style
- Body finish: High Gloss
- Bridge / Tremolo: Fender Synchronized tremolo
- Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Handwound 60/63 Strat
- Color/ Finish: Aged British Racing Green Metallic
- Colour: Green
- Controls: 1x volume, 2x tone
- Country of Origin: USA
- Custom shop: yes
- Factory Stringing: Fender Nickel Plated Steel
- Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Fretboard: Rosewood (Rosewood), AAA 9mm, Sorted for Dark Rosewood
- Fretboard Inlays: White Dot
- Fretboard radius: 9,5"
- Fret material: Nickel silver
- Frets: 21
- Fret size: Narrow Tall
- Hardware: Nickel / Chrome aged
- Includes: Original Fender case, certificate
- Middle Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Handwound 60/63 Strat RWRP
- Neck: Ahorn Quartersawn
- Neck Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Handwound 60/63 Strat
- Neck Profile: '60s Style Oval "C"
- Neck construction: Bolt on neck
- Neck finish: Gloss aged
- Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
- Nut material: Bone
- Pickguard: Nitrocellulose 3-lagig Mint Green
- Pickup Configuration: S-S-S (3x Single Coil)
- Pickup Cover: parchment
- Pickup Selector Switch: 5-way switch
- Pickup type: passive
- Pot Caps: parchment
- Scale: 25" (635 - 659 mm)
- Scale Length: 25,5" (648 mm)
- Serial number: CZ588505
- Signature Model: no
- Strings: 6 string
- Strings thickness ex factory: .010 - .046
- Technology: Solid Body
- Translation: 1:14
- Tuning Machines: Fender Vintage-Style
- Weight: 3,65 kg
To make a Fender instrument available to everyone, they are offered in different price ranges. The subsidiary Squier sells affordable, Far East-made models built to original specifications with Fender know-how in the background. An affordable, "real" Fender can be found in the series made in Mexico. The classic original Fender instruments, such as the American Pro series, are made in the USA. For lovers of hand-built instruments and guitars with vintage flair there is the Fender Custom Shop, where you can even have a guitar built completely to your own specifications.
But Fender is not only known and appreciated for its instruments, it is also famous for various amplifiers such as the Deluxe Reverb, the Princeton, the Champion, the Blues Junior and the Fender Rumble bass amp range. Fender now also offers a wide range of guitar accessories like strings, picks, cables, straps, cases, tuners and care products, as well as spare parts and pickups, plus accessories and merchandising. You can of course find all of this at the music shop you trust – session in Frankfurt and Walldorf!